Sliding door construction



Feb.2n,1934. l E, w, CLARK 1,948,065

SLIDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 20,1934. E. w. CLARK I y SLIDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION '2 sheets-sheet 2 FiledAug. 17. 1929 jams uf. (44p/v 4 HZor/veys Za-w.. *wf

Patented Feb. 20, 1934 APATENT OFFICE 1,948,065 SLIDING DOORCONSTRUCTION Earl W. Clark,

Warren, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to National ManufacturingCompany, Sterling, Ill.,

a corporation of Illinois Application August 17, 1929. Seal No. 386,622

26 Claims.

This invention relates to sliding door constructions, and moreparticularly to a modification of the type adapted to be moved from anopen position to a closed position along a predetermined path, and viceversa, and as disclosed in my copending application filed herewith.

The invention is of general application to slidding doors for furniture,such as cabinets, or

lo largerstructures, such as ware-houses, elevators and the like, and ithas particular adaptability when applied to garage doors.

The embodiment of the invention described herein has to do with agarage, but it is to be understood at the outset that this descriptionis not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention includingother adaptations.

Considerable difficulty has been heretofore experienced in makingsliding doors for garages tight against the weather. Many expedients forsealing the door after it has been moved to closed position requiremanipulation, in addition to the closing of the door. For these reasonsit is an important object of the invention to provide an improved meansto seal the door automatically with closing movement thereof.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent as the followingdescription proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is an interior elevation of the front of a garageprovided with a sliding door construction according to the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is an internal elevation of one side of the garage, showing thedoor in vertical section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the structure shownin Figure' 2, the operation of the device being shown more clearly byillustrating consecutive pos'tions in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a partial elevation of the track member for guiding thedoor, and

Figure 6 is a view sim'lar to Figure 5, showing the remaining portion ofthe track.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention isillustrated in connection with a garage of usual construction, having'afoundation 10, sill l1, studding 12, siding 13, plate 14, rafters 15 androof boards 16.

The front of the garage is provided with a door opening having a doorjamb '17 fitted in a casing 18 and provided with trim 19 and a door stopor sealing member 20 constituting an abutment 4for the door.

In the preferred embodiment, the door proper comprises a plurality ofsections 21, 22, 23 and 24, flexibly connected in series by means ofhinges 25 joining their adjacent edges. A plurality of rollers 26 areassociated with the door sections and are adapted to guide them alongguide tracks mounted in each side of the door. These tracks comprisesubstantially vertical portions 27, smoothly curved upper portions 28,and straight horizontal extensions 29. These tracks are supported byhangers 30, and a transverse tie member serves to maintain thehorizontal portions 29 parallel to -each other.

The details of the track, roller and hinges are shown in Fig. 4. Thetrack is channel shaped in cross section, and comprises a flat or baseflange 32, which in the vertical portion 27 is secured to the casing 18in any desired manner.

kFor reinforcement a backing angle 33 is secured thereto and alsosecured to the casing 18. The outer ange 34 of the channel is providedwith a retaining rim 35, the flange 34 being spaced from they ange 32 bythe web 36 of uniform depth.

Each of the hinges 25 comprises hinge members 37 and 38, respectively,and a pintle member 39 which is rigidly secured to one of the hingemembers. The member 39 projects beyond the side of the door section andis bent inwardly as at 40, and outwardly as at 41, whereby the endportion' 42 is parallel to but offset from the pintle 39. The portion 42forms a journal for the rollers 26.

Each of the rollers has associated therewith a sealing flange 43. Theflange for the upper roller 26 is of slightly smaller diameter than the9 associated roller, and the respective anges for the rollers therebeloware of uniformly decreasing diameter. I

Means are provided for engaging the respective iianges for automaticallyurging the door against the sealing member 20, as the door is loweredinto its closed position. The liange 34 is provided with a plurality ofwedge members or inclined cams 44, which are spaced along the verticalportion 2'1 of the track at the positions taken 100 by the rollers whenthe door is in its closed position. The members 44 comprise metalstraps, the two ends of which pass through slots in the flange 34 andare upset outside thereof as at 45. 'I'he members 44 are generallyU-shaped, but' the bridge portion thereof is inclined or tapered, asshown, forming a wedge portion 46 and a retaining portion 47. Themembers 44 are substantially similar, but the retaining portion 4'1thereof is spaced farther from the flange 34, toward the bottom of thedoor. Accordingly the member 44 at the bottom of the door has aretaining portion 47 spaced a considerable distance from the flange 34,while the member 44, located near door sections against the sealingmember 20 and final movement of the door will ride the flanges 43 alongthe vretaining portions 47 thus holding the doorA in its sealedposition.

Means are provided for counter-balancing the weight of the door andautomatically retracting it into horizontal alignment in order toprovideV maximum head room. A cable 48 has one end secured to a pin 49carried by the lower section 24 oi the door, and extends upward alongthe edge of the door and passes over a xed pulley 50 journaled in ablock 51 secured to the plate 14. The cable 48 then passes under amovable pulley 52 and then up over a fixed pulley 53, arranged besidethe pulley 50 and also journaled in the block 51. Finally the cable 49passes under a movable pulley 54 journaled in the block 55 in which thepulley 52 is journaled, and has its ends secured to a link 56 vcarriedby the block 51. The block 55 has a depending eye 57 which receives theend of a heavy helical spring 58. The other end o f the spring 58engages an eye bolt 59 which passes through a bracket 60 secured to thecasing 18 and adjustable therein by means ofv a nut 61. With thisarrangement a considerable movement of the door will cause acomparatively small movement of the spring 58.

The lowest roller is provided with a yieldable mounting which permits itto move away from the section 24. The lowest hinge pintle is U- shaped,and the roller is mounted on the eX- tended arm 62 thereof. A coilspring 63 urges the arm 62 toward the section 24.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be noted that as the door is elevatedthe roller 26 associated with the section 21 will ride around tha curvedportion 28 of the track and pass on to the horizontal portion 29. Theremaining sections and rollers will follow along the track until allofthe sections, except section 24, are fully supported by the tracksection 29. In this positionthe roller associated with the section 21will abut against a stop member 62, located near the inner end of thetrack section 29. As the upper sections are all fully supported bythehorizontal track portion 29, the entire force of the spring 58 will beexerted on the pin 59 carrying the lower section 24. The result of thiscondition is that the spring 58 will overcome the force oi' the spring63 and snap the section 29 into substantial horizontal alignment withthe remaining sections, thus providing clear head room for the garagedoor opening. l

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and describedin considerable detail for the purposes of adequate disclosure, but

' the broad idea of the invention is not limited to the detailsdescribed, but includes such embodiments as fall within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sliding door construction comprising in combination, a door, anabutment for said door, means for guiding said door, circular ilanges ofprogrezlively decreasing diameters carried by said 1,94a,oas

door, cams in xed locations along the closed position of the dooradapted for engagement by said flanges to urge said door against saidabutment as said door is moved into closed position.

`2. A sliding door construction, comprising in combination, a door, anabutment for said. door, means for guiding said door, circular flangesof progressively decreasing diameters carried by extensions of the hingepintles, cams in ilxed position along the closed position of the dooradapted for engagement by said circular anges to urge said door againstsaid abutment as said door is moved into closed position.

3. A sliding door construction, comprising in combination, a door, anabutment for said door,

guiding rmeans consisting of a track and guidel rollers, circularilanges of progressively decreasing diameters carried by extensions ofthe hinge pintles, cams xed to the said track along the closed positionof the door adapted for engagement by said circular flanges to urge saiddoor against said abutment as said door is moved into closed position.

4. A sliding door construction, comprising in combination, a door madeup of a 1urality of panels hinged together, an abutment for said door,guiding means consisting oi.' a track and guide rollers, said guiderollers being carried by extensions of the hinge pintles, circularflanges carried by said guide rollers, cams xed to the said track alongthe closed position of the door adapted for engagement by said circular:flanges to' urge said door against said abutment as said door is movedinto closed position.

5. A sliding door construction, comprising in combination, a door madeup of a plurality of panels hinged together, an abutment for said saidtrack along the closed position o1' the door adapted for engagement bysaid circular flanges to urge said door against said abutment as saiddoor is moved into closed position.

6. In a device of the class disclosed, door jambs deining a dooropening, track members along said jambs, a door, rollers on the edgesthereof to be guided between flanges of said track members, said rollersbeing smaller in diameter than the distance between said flanges, andcam blocks for wedging the rollers in the track members and for forcingsaid door against said door jambs, said cam blocks having portionssubstantially parallel with the door jambs with which said rollersengage when the door is near and at closed position.

Y 7. In a device of the class disclosed, door jambs defining a dooropening, track members along said jambs and having spacedroller-confining anges, a door, roller structures mounted along theedges of the door and including rollers guided between the flanges ofsaid track members, said rollers being of smaller diameter than thedistance between said ilanges, and cam members along said track membersfor forcing the door laterally toward said jambs, said cam membershaving portions substantially parallel with the door jambs and withwhich said roller structures engage when the door is near and at itsclosed position.

8. In a device oi' the class disclosed, door jambs' ln substantiallyhorizontal overhead position, and having spaced roller-confiningflanges, a door, roller structures mounted along the opposite side edgesof the door and including rollers guided between the flanges of saidtrack members, said rollers being of smaller diameter than the distancebetween said flanges, and cam members along said track members forforcing the door laterally toward and in sealed relation with respect tosaid jambs, said cam members having portions substantially parallel withthe door jambs and with 1 which said roller structures engage when thedoor is near and at its closed position, and also having inclinedportions leading to said parallel portions and with which said rollerstructures initially engage.

9. In a device of the class described, door jambs defining a verticaldoor opening, track members having roller-confining flanges mountedalong said doorway, a door adapted to be moved to a vertical position toclose said door opening, spaced roller structures mounted along theedges of said door and including rollers guided between said trackfianges and of less diameter than the distance between said iianges, andcam members for forcing said door laterally toward said jambs, said cammembers having portions substantially parallel with said jambs and withwhich said roller structures engage respectively as the door is near andat its closed position, said parallel portions being so constructed andarranged that they approach said door jambs progressively ,closer fromthe top to the bottom of said door opening.

10. In a device of the class described, door jambs defining a verticaldoor opening, track members having roller-confining flanges mountedalong said doorway, a door adapted to be moved to a vertical position toclose said door opening, spaced roller structures mounted along theedges of said door and including rollers guided between said trackflanges and of less diameter than the distance between said flanges, andcam members on said track members for forcing said said door laterallytoward said jambs, said cam members having portions substantiallyparallel with said jambs and with which said roller structures engagerespectively as the door is near and at its closed position, saidparallel portions being so constructed and arranged that they approachsaid door jambs progressively closer from the top to the bottom of saiddoor opening, the parts of said roller structures which engage saidparallel portions being progressively sized to accommodate theprogressive approach of said parallel portions to shift the door as awhole simulta-A neously and uniformly toward said door jamb.

11. In a device of the class described, door jambs defining a dooropening, track members having roller-confining flanges mounted alongsaid doorway, a door movable from one end to the other of said doorwayto open and close the same, roller structure along opposite edges ofsaid door and having rollers engaging said track members and confinedbetween said flanges, and stationary cam members along said trackmembers and having portions substantially parallel with said jambs, saidroller` structures including circular members adapted to engage saidparallel portions when the door is near and at its closed position, saidcam members being so constructed that said parallel portions thereofprogressively approach closer to said door jambs from one end of saiddoorway to the other and said circular members progressively andcorrespondingly decrease in diameter to cause, said door to shiftlaterally toward said door jambs as a whole and in a plane substantiallyparallel with said door jambs.

12. In a device of the class disclosed, door jambs defining a verticaldoor opening, track members having roller-confining flanges mountedalong said doorway and extending away therefrom in substantiallyhorizontal overhead position, a door movable vertically andhorizontally, and vice versa, to open and close said doorway, rollerstructure along opposite side edges of said door and having rollersengaging said track members and confined between said flanges, andstationary cam members along the vertical portions of said track membersand having portions substantially parallel with said jambs, said rollerstructures including circular members adapted to engage said parallelportions when the door is near and at its closed position, said cammembers being so constructed that said parallel portions thereofprogressively increase in length and approach closer to said door jambsfrom top to bottom of said doorway andsaid circular membersprogressively decrease in diameter from top to bottom of said doorway.

13. A sliding door construction comprising a door, an abutment for saiddoor, means for guiding said door, circular members of progressivelydecreasing diameters carried by said door, cam members infixed positionsalong the closed position of said door adapted for engagement by saidcircular members to urge said door against said abutment as said door ismoved into closed position. l

14. A sliding door construction comprising a door, an abutment for saiddoor, means for guiding said door, circular members of progressivelydecreasing diameters carried by said door, cam

members in fixed positions along the closed poposition, lsaid cammembers progressively increasing in length correspondingly to the decrease in diameter of said circular members.

l5. A sliding door construction comprising a door, an abutment for saiddoor, means for'guiding said door including shaft members carried byvsaid door, circular members of progressively decreasing diameterscarried by said shaft members, and cams in fixed positions along theclosed position of the door constructed and arranged for engagement bysaid circular members to urge said door against said abutment as saiddoor is moved into its closed position.

16. A sliding door construction comprising a door, an abutment for saiddoor, means for guidingsaid door including shaft members carried by saiddoor, circular members of progressively decreasing diameters carried bysaid shaft members, and cams of progressively increasing length,correspondingly with the decrease in diameter of said circular members,and in fixed positions along the closed position of the doorforengagement by said circular members to urgesaid door against saidabutment as said door fisfmoved into its closed position. v l

1'7. A sliding doorV construction comprising a door, an abutment forsaid door", means for guiding said door including shaft members carriedtrack members along the closed position of the door constructed andvarranged for complemental engagement by said circular .members to urgesaid door against said abutment as said door is moved into its closedposition.

18. A sliding door construction comprising a door, an abutment for saiddoor, means including track members and shaft members carried by saiddoor and rollers carried by said shaft member's, for guiding said door,spaced cam members constituting a fixed part of said track members andprojecting progressively closer to said abutment from one end of saidabutment to the other, and circular members carried by said shaftmembers and progressively decreasing in diameter correspondingly to thecloseness 4of approach of said cam members to said abutment, saidcircular members being adapted to engage said cam members in the closingposition of the door to shift and seal the latter against said abutment.

19. A sliding door construction comprising, in combination, a doorhaving a plurality of panels exibly secured together, a jamb, a trackagesystem comprising a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, guidingmeans secured to and movable with the door panels for cooperation withthe trackage system, whereby the door may be moved from its horizontalposition to its vertical position, and vice versa, and coacting means,movable with the door panels and fixed with re- -spect to the jamb,respectively, operative only when the said plurality `of panels are intheir aligned positions as they approach their final closed position,and constructed and arranged to simultaneously and uniformly shift saidpanels as a unit against the door jamb whereby to seal the same.

20. An overhead door construction of the character described comprising,in combination, a jamb, a door having a plurality of panels iiexiblyconnected together, cooperating guiding means associated with the doorand the jamb, respectively, for guiding the door from its horizontal toits vertical position, and vice versa, said guiding means beingconstructed and arranged to uniformly space a plurality of the doorpanels from' the jamb during the vertical movement ofthe door, andcoacting shifting means operative only as ther door approaches its finalclosed position and when a plurality of the panels are in verticalalignment for moving the panels. as a unit, into abutting position withthe jamb.

21. An overhead door construction of the character described comprisinga door composed of a plurality of flexibly connected panels, a jamb, achannel-shaped track having a straight vertical guiding portionextending `substantially throughout the entire height of the dooropening and a horizontal guiding portion, rollers attached to the doorpanels and mounted in said track for guiding the door panels in theirdifferent posi.- tions of adjustment, said channel-shaped track looselyreceiving said rollers during all of the vertical positions of thepanels whereby to minimize frictional resistance to the movement of saiddoor panels, and shifting means operative only as the door aproaches itsnal closed position for shifting the door panels into engagement withthe jamb whereby to'seal the door.

22. A sliding door construction comprising, in combination, a doorhaving a plurality of panels flexibly secured together, a jamb, atrackage system-comprising a vertical and a horizontal portion, guidingmeans associated with the door tor cooperation with the trackage system,means for bodily shifting the door into engagement with the jamb, saidmeans being operative only as the door approaches its final closedposition, and comprising a plurality of separated devices secured to thedoor and carried thereby, of decreasing sizes from the upper portion ofthe door to the lower portion thereof, and a plurality of coactingshifting devices stationarily disposed with respect to the path ofmovement of the door and so constructed and arranged that they coactwith the first-named'devices carried by the door simultaneously wherebyto simultaneously and uniformly move all portions of the door, as aunit, toward the jamb, as the same aproaches its iinal closed position.

23. A slidingdoor construction of the character described comprising adoor having a plurality of flexibly connected panels, door jambsdeflning a door opening, guiding means provided by the door andcooperating with guiding means fixedly disposed with respect to thejamb, said guiding means being adapted to maintain a plurality of thedoor panels at a uniform distance from the jamb during their verticalmovement and coacting shifting means operative only as the doorapproaches its nal closed position and constructed to bodily shift thepanels of said door simultaneously into vengagement with said jamb toseal the same at the nal closed position of the door.

24. In a device of the character described comprising, in combination, adoor having a plurality of flexibly connected panels, door jambsdefining a door opening, a track having horizontal and vertical portionsfor guiding said panels, means for shifting the door toward the jamboperative only as the door approaches its final closed position, saidmeans comprising a series of shifting devices carried by the door. and aseries of complemental shifting devices iixedly secured with respect tothe jamb, each device of one series being adapted to contact only withits complemental device of the second series, which contact occurs whenthe door approaches its nal closed position whereby to cause a unitaryshifting of the door toward the jamb to seal the same in its nal closedposition.

25. A sliding door construction comprising, in combination, a doorhaving a plurality of -panels flexibly secured together, a jamb defininga door opening, a trackage system including top guiding sections andstraight downwardly extending guiding sections for guiding the panelsfrom their horizontal to their vertical positions where they close saiddoor opening, and coacting shifting means movable with the door panelsand fixed 180 with respect to the jamb, respectively, operative only asthe door panels approach their nal closed position and constructed tomove said panels as a unit toward the jamb to seal the same.

26. A sliding door construction comprising, in combination, a doorhaving a plurality'of panels exibly secured together, a jamb defining adoor opening, tracks including top sections and downwardly extendingsections adapted to guide a plurality of the door panels in a straightpath during the downward closing movement of the door, coacting shiftingmeans movable with the door 'panels and fixed with respect to the jamb,re'- spectively, and being constructed and arranged to bodily andunitarily shift said .panels only as the door approaches its finalclosed positi n and when said panels ar insubstantially verticalalignment.

EARL W. CLARK.

